Apparatuses and methods for multi-radio access technology (RAT) coordination

Abstract

A User Equipment (UE) including a wireless transceiver and a controller is provided. The wireless transceiver performs wireless transmission and reception to and from a first service network utilizing a first RAT or a second service network utilizing a second RAT. The controller sends an indicator of a connection release request to the first service network via the wireless transceiver in response to terminating a first communication service with the first service network or in response to leaving the first service network for the second service network. Also, the controller releases a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the first service network after sending the indicator of the connection release request.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A User Equipment (UE), comprising:
 a wireless transceiver, configured to perform wireless transmission and reception to and from a first service network utilizing a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) via a first subscriber identity module (SIM) or a second service network utilizing a second RAT via a second SIM; and 
 a controller, configured to: 
 connect to the first service network using the first SIM, 
 determine that the UE is required to switch from the first service network to the second service network, 
 send an indicator of a connection release request to the first service network via the wireless transceiver in response to leaving the first service network for the second service network, 
 start a timer upon sending the indicator, and 
 release a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the first service network upon either expiration of the timer or receipt of an RRC connection release message from the first service network before expiration of the timer. 
 
     
     
       2. The UE as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the indicator of the connection release request is sent in a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) message or an RRC message. 
     
     
       3. The UE as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the NAS message is an Evolved Packet System (EPS) Mobility Management (EMM) message or an EPS Session Management (ESM) message in response to the first service network being an EPS; or the NAS message is a 5G Mobility Management (5GMM) message in response to the first service network being a 5G System (5GS). 
     
     
       4. The UE as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the EMM message is a Tracking Area Update message or an EMM Status message; the ESM message is a Bearer Resource Modification Request message or an ESM Status message; and the 5GMM message is a Registration Request message, an UL NAS transport message, or a 5GMM Status message. 
     
     
       5. The UE as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the RRC message is a UE Assistance Information message. 
     
     
       6. The UE as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine that the UE is required to switch from the first service network to the second service network due to initiating a specific activity with the second service network. 
 
     
     
       7. The UE as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the specific activity is a Voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE) (VoLTE) call. 
     
     
       8. A method, executed by a UE communicatively connected to a first service network utilizing a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) via a first subscriber identity module (SIM) or a second service network utilizing a second RAT via a second SIM, the method comprising:
 connecting to the first service network using the first SIM; 
 determining that the UE is required to switch from the first service network to the second service network; 
 sending an indicator of a connection release request to the first service network in response to leaving the first service network for the second service network; 
 starting a timer upon sending the indicator; and 
 releasing a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the first service network upon either expiration of the timer or receipt of an RRC connection release message from the first service network before expiration of the timer. 
 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the indicator of the connection release request is sent in a NAS message or an RRC message. 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the NAS message is an EMM message or an ESM message in response to the first service network being an EPS; or the NAS message is a 5GMM message in response to the first service network being a 5GS. 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the EMM message is a Tracking Area Update message or an EMM Status message; the ESM message is a Bearer Resource Modification Request message or an ESM Status message; and the 5GMM message is a Registration Request message, an UL NAS transport message, or a 5GMM Status message. 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the RRC message is a UE Assistance Information message. 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein determining that the UE is required to switch from the first service network to the second service network further includes:
 initiating a specific activity with the second service network. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the specific activity is a VoLTE call.